Water cooler



INVENTOR.

iii Z11 7. 2211;

Sept. 28, 1943.

H. c. T. WHITTENBERG WATER COOLER Filed Sept. 8, 1941.amwazayzzww..----- Patented Sept. 28, 1943 UNITE SIATES: PATENT OFFIGE'25330363 V I WATER oootna I-I arry C. T. Whittenberg; Louisville, Ky.Application September 8, 1941, Serial No. 410,091

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a water cooler utilized for maintainingdrinking water therein at a low temperature.

The invention is designed primarily for use in connection with portablecoolers such as used on construction jobs, it being possible through theuse thereof, to supply chilled drinking water to workmen on the job.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and efiicient meansfor lowering the temperature of the water and also for prolonging theperiod during which the water will be chilled.

A further object is to provide a cooler the use of which involves theemployment of a primary COO-ling medium which, in turn, produces asecondary chilling medium, the latter being formed of and beingultimately converted back into the Water to be dispensed.

Another object is to provide a cooler which is simple and compact inconstruction, formed of few parts, and is easily handled for thepurposes intended.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has beenshown.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a central vertical section through thecooler, the same being shown with the cooling means and water thereinFigure 2 is a section on line 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, l designates acasing of any suitable size and proportions the walls of which arepreferably insulated. If desired this casing may be provided with meanswhereby it can be readily carried from place to place so as to be usefulin which is movable so as to afford access to the interior of thecasing. As shown in the draw- 7 ing this closure can be connected to thecasing by hinges 3.

A faucet 4 is connected to the bottom portion of the casing and can belocated on any one of the walls thereof found most convenient. Thisfaucet aifords an outlet for the liquid content of the container and isnormally closed.

Removably mounted within the outer container I is an inner container 5formed preferably of a metal which readily conducts heat and this innercontainer, which can rest on the bottom of the outer container I, has atop closure 6. This closure is removable to afford access to theinterior of container 5 and, if desired, can be provided with a vent 1opening upwardly through the closure 2. This vent, however, is notalways essential because the closures 6 and 2 can be loosely mounted soas to permit escape of gases generated in the device as hereinafterexplained.

To opposed sides of the inner container 5 are joined spacing brackets 8so proportioned as to abut against the corresponding walls of the outercontainer and thus hold the inner container against movement toward andfrom said walls. Additional spacing brackets 9 extend from the otherwalls of the inner. container 5 for abutment against the correspondingwalls of the outer container and obviously these brackets 8 and 9 allcooperate to holdthe inner container 5 properly centered within theouter container I.

In practice the inner'container 5 is partly or entirely filled with dryice indicated at D. It is then lowered into the outer container I so asto be properly centered therein and after the closure 6 has been placedin position the water to be chilled is poured into the outer containerso that it will extend around the inner container. The closure 2 is thenmoved to shut position.

The dry ice contained in the inner container 5 will quickly reduce thetemperature of the wall of said container so that that portion of thewater adjacent to the wall will soon be frozen into a solid sleeve ofice I with which the un-- frozen portion of the Water Will remain incontact. The unfrozen water will of course be quickly chilled. Thecooler can readily be carried from place to place as before stated andwhen it is desired to dispense some of, the chilled water it is onlynecessary to open the faucet to permit a portion of the water to escape.As long as dry ice is within the inner container 5, a jacket or sleeveof ice will be maintained around said container and in the water. Thecooler can be refilled with water as necessary. Ultimately, the dry icewill evaporate but after this evaporation has taken place, the jacket orsleeve of ice Will still remain in the water and continue to cool ituntil the ice is ultimately melted and the ice water dispensed with theother water in the container I.

By thus utilizing both a primary freezing element D and a secondaryfreezing element I, the period during which chilled water can bedispensed will be greatly prolonged beyond the time when the dry ice hascompletely evaporated.

In the drawing the unfrozen water has been indicated at W.

What is claimed is:

A portable water cooler including an outer container having an aperturedclosure, an inner container for holding a refrigerant, a closure on theinner container and spaced from the closure on the outer container, saidinner container being removably mounted in the outer container andadapted to be surrounded by drinking water, a tubular member extendingfrom the closure of the inner container and through the aperture in thecover of the outer container, means carried by and removable with theinner container for holding the inner container centered within theouter container, and a faucet located for the withdrawal ofsubstantially all the drinking water in the cooler, said inner containerbeing positioned and proportioned to carry a sleeve of ice therearoundsufiicient in quantity to provide an effective holdover when a portionof the water is frozen and without interfering with withdrawal of thewater through the faucet.

HARRY C. T. WHITTENBERG.

